Connecticut Adjustable Gastric Banding

Adjustable gastric banding surgery is one of the safest surgical weight loss options for the treatment of morbid obesity. Currently, there are two gastric bands available in the United States. The LAP-BAND® was approved by the FDA in 2001. To date, over 500,000 people worldwide have had a LAP-BAND® implanted for weight loss. The REALIZE® Band was approved by the FDA in September 2007. Each of these devices helps patients lose weight by limiting food intake and helping patients control their appetite.

During adjustable gastric band surgery, the bariatric surgeon places a band made of silicone around the upper part of the stomach. The bariatric surgeon uses laparoscopic techniques, making a few small key-hole incisions in the belly and guiding his or her instruments with a camera. Inside the gastric band is a reservoir that can be made tighter or looser by injecting saline through an access port placed just below the skin. The access port is connected to the band by thin tubing to allow adjustment. The LAP-BAND® controls the opening between the upper and lower part of the stomach so patients eat less and stay full longer. Unlike gastric bypass, there is no cutting of the stomach or intestine.

Gastric band adjustments in Connecticut

One of the key features of a gastric band, such as the LAP-BAND® System, is that it can be adjusted during a simple office visit. The bariatric surgeon can use adjustments to control the rate of weight loss patients experience. Most patients have four to six adjustments in the first year after surgery and then one every year after that.

Griffin Hospital Adjustments FAQ

Adjustable gastric band results in Connecticut

Patients who have adjustable gastric band surgery can expect to lose roughly 50 percent of their excess body weight within the first 3 years after their surgery. Significant weight loss will occur in the first 12 months following surgery and gradually decline after that. However, LAP-BAND® surgery has been proven effective for long term weight loss, with patients continuing to lose weight up to 10 years following surgery. Patients who commit to lifestyle changes that include a healthful diet and exercise plan, and who consistently get their gastric band adjusted, prove to be the most successful. You can see before-and-after pictures by visiting our success stories page.

Adjustable gastric band concerns

Patients in Connecticut who have bariatric surgery such as gastric banding should be aware of the potential risks and complications:

  • Foods such as fibrous vegetable or doughy bread can cause stoma obstruction (stomach-band outlet blockage)
  • The stomach may slip up through the band. This can occur when there is trauma to the stomach, such as excessive vomiting
  • Patients may experience gastroesophageal reflux, especially if the band is over-filled or too tight
  • Losing weight quickly can lead to sagging skin, which may require plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery in the future.
  • There are risks associated with any surgery

Luckily, most adjustable gastric band complications can be fixed with minor revisional, and sometimes outpatient, surgery.

Adjustable gastric band cost at our Connecticut center

Obesity treatments, such as LAP-BAND® surgery or gastric bypass surgery, are often covered by health insurance. In some cases, however, heath care providers consider this surgery investigational and do not cover it. Insurance companies may also require patients to undergo a doctor-supervised diet prior to surgery or have a special medical consultation before approval. Griffin Hospital Bariatrics in Connecticut staffs specialists that can help with insurance paperwork and assist in insurance approval. If you are denied coverage, Griffin Hospital Bariatrics can connect you with a lender that specializes in financing weight loss surgery.

Connecticut LAP-BAND surgeons

Griffin Hospital’s bariatric program is an excellent choice for bariatric surgery procedures in Connecticut. Their experienced bariatric surgeons, caring staff and state of the art facilities are second to none. Register for a free seminar to learn how you can achieve weight loss success.